Groundcover

Groundcover is a low-growing plant or plant layer used to cover soil, typically spreading to form a dense mat. Groundcovers are chosen to reduce erosion, suppress weeds, moderate soil temperature and moisture, and add visual interest. They are generally shorter than shrubs and trees, usually staying under 12 inches (30 cm) tall.

Plants used as groundcovers spread by runners, stolons, or rhizomes and can create a continuous carpet that protects the soil. They may be evergreen or deciduous, and their tolerance for sun, drought, and foot traffic varies by species. Some are chosen for bright flowers or foliage color, others for year-round coverage.

Common groundcovers include evergreen Vinca minor (periwinkle), Pachysandra terminalis (Japanese spurge), and Euonymus fortunei (wintercreeper); deciduous Ajuga reptans (bugleweed) and Sedum spurium (stonecrop) for sunny sites; Thymus serpyllum (creeping thyme) for fragrant, drought-tolerant options. Low grasses such as carex or mondo grass are also used in some landscapes.

Site considerations: choose species that match light, soil, and moisture; avoid aggressive invasives in sensitive habitats; check local advisories.

Maintenance and care: establishing groundcovers can take a season; irrigation is important; once established, many require minimal mowing. Some species may self-seed or spread aggressively, so routine pruning or edging helps prevent encroachment into unwanted areas. In winter, evergreen forms provide year-round cover; some deciduous forms lose leaves and reveal underlying soil.

Applications range from slope stabilization and weed suppression to decorative ground cover borders and lawn substitutes for low-traffic areas.